Trained School Boards Save Money

Board Member Training Survey Results
A survey of 600 Michigan voters, commissioned by MASB and conducted by Anchor Associates, Inc., tested the public's perception of school board member training.

Key findings include:

• 30 percent of respondents gave their local school board a "C" when asked to grade them in performing their duties.
  
• 49 percent believe improving student performance is the number one responsibility of school board members.
  
• 25 percent believe improving student performance is the number one responsibility of superintendents.
• 66 percent believe school board member training should be mandatory.
  
• 80 percent of respondents think training is necessary once board members are elected in order to fulfill their responsibilities under the law.
  
• 74 percent support local districts paying for training/professional development for their board members.
  
• 91 percent support board members attending training/professional development within one hour of their local district.
  
• 72 percent support board members attending training/professional development at a conference held within Michigan.
  
• 52 percent oppose board members attending training/professional development at a national conference.
  
• 55 percent support board member training via online/Internet.
  
• 66 percent oppose board members attending classes held at a large resort/hotel within Michigan.
  
• 80 percent oppose board member training held at a large hotel/resort within the U.S.
  
• 76 percent of respondents are more confident in the decision-making ability of the board if they receive training/professional development.
• 62 percent are more likely to vote for a candidate if they have training/professional development.
  
• 24 percent of respondents think a local district should spend up to $500 to get a local school board member to receive training/professional development.
  
• 58 percent of respondents voted in the last school board election.
  

The following is the demographic makeup of survey respondents.

Gender
Male: 300 (50%)
Female: 300 (50%)

Age
18-19: 17 (3%)
20-34: 66 (11%)
35-44: 105 (18%)
45-54: 141 (24%)
55-64: 100 (17%)
65 and over: 164 (27%)

Income Level
Under $20,000: 51 (9%)
$20,001-$30,000: 58 (10%)
$50,001-$100,000: 155 (26%)
Above $100,000: 71 (12%)
Refused: 148 (25%)

Political Affiliation
Democrat: 172 (29%)
Republican: 192 (32%)
Independent/Other: 236 (39%)

Education
Did not graduate high school: 15 (3%)
Professional certificate: 17 (3%)
High school graduate: 151 (25%)
Some college: 153 (26%)
Bachelor degree: 134 (22%)
Masters degree: 94 (16%)
Beyond masters: 30 (5%)
Refused: 6 (1%)

Family
Children currently attending school: 175 (29%)
Children have graduated: 311 (52%)
Children have not yet reached school age: 23 (4%)
No children: 89 (15%)
Refused: 2 (0%)

Community
Rural: 204 (34%)
Urban: 111 (19%)
Suburban: 281 (47%)
Refused: 4 (1%)

For more information, or to get a regional breakdown of results, please contact Jennifer Rogers; 517.327.5908 or Sarah Ford; 517.327.5907.

Board Member Training Survey Press Release

30-second radio announcement

60-second radio announcement

Click on the links below to view a county-to-county breakdown of MASB active, trained board members:

2004-05 County Breakdown

2005-06 County Breakdown